Getting to Know Brenna Banister - NACHMO Boston Interviews

By Nicole Harris

Photo by Olivia Blaisdell

Brenna Banister is more than just a NACHMO Boston choreographer. She is the director of Alive Dance Collective, the Regional Director of NACHMO Boston, and our dear friend. We love her foot dance and can’t wait for you to see it on June 5th at the Malden Dance Mile!

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N: In addition to being the NACHMO Boston regional director you were inspired to choreograph a piece this year! What made you excited about your idea?
BB: I initially started off the year not intending to choreograph. My first year as regional director I also choreographed and danced in a piece, and it was far too much for one month! However, once the month got rolling I was so excited by what everyone else was doing that I wanted in. A prompt put forth by NACHMO HQ this year was to dance with a piece of paper constantly connected to your body and the ground, and I found that very appealing. That was how the first phrase of my piece was created and I went from there!
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​N: This is your fourth NACHMO as regional director. What were some things you have learned from this process? What is your favorite part of NACHMO?
​BB: NACHMO has really helped me see how vibrant the Boston dance community is!

Photo by Olivia Blaisdell

I’ve also learned that organizing is key, having help makes everything more exciting (yay Monkeyhouse!), the Boston dance community needs more positive experiences with what mentorship means, and that choreographers are always excited by this opportunity. My favorite part of NACHMO is seeing new connections being formed!
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N: This year’s NACHMO was different than past years. What was one of your favorite moments? What was something that went a little sideways?
BB: It was certainly different but so wonderful! I loved forming connections in the small groups of the Mental Health Happy Hours. It was amazing to form real, deep connection in a time when connection was so hard to come by. I also loved all of the group mentorship sessions. Each one was unique, but the current running through all of them was how kind and thoughtful people were about offering insight and feedback to each other. I left each session feeling inspired and full of admiration for the community that was created.
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N: Who are your mentors? What makes those relationships special to you? What are you doing to pay forward the gifts they have given you?
BB: My high school dance teacher, Rebecca McGregor is someone that I often pass along work to for feedback and insight. She’s been watching my choreography since I first started and it’s great to have that perspective! Otherwise, my mentors are the ladies of Alive Dance Collective. They are some of the most special humans to me and dancing with them results in safety, thoughtfulness, and all the laughs when working on pieces.

I try to pay these gifts forward by having a door open to talk about dance and life with the younger generation that I was lucky enough to get to know through a few years of teaching dance. Plus, by offering mentorship opportunities at NACHMO Boston with the goal that they feel as safe and fortifying as mine do.

​N: It is important to us that we continue to lift up other artists in our community. Who are some of your favorite Boston area choreographers? Why?
BB: There are so many! Evolve Dynamicz, Ruth Benson & Lynn Modell, Kristin Wagner, Monkeyhouse, Sasso and Co, Public Displays of Motion, Ryan P Casey, and more!

N: We are so thrilled to be in Malden! Do you have any connections to this fantastic city?
BB: I unfortunately have not spent a lot of time in Malden, except for one time in Summer 2020 when my partner and I kayaked in the Mystic River. It was a beautiful day towards the end of the summer and was a new spot for us. I'm looking forward to returning to kayak again at some point this year!